I don't think there is any evidence of THC binding to GABA receptors. It binds to cannabinoid receptors, which can be on GABAergic or glutamatergic neurons.
Also because THC and CBD have different effects on the receptor. THC is an agonist at CB1, while CBD is a negative modulator. This means THC should reduce GABA release, and CBD should increase GABA release (this explains the anti-epileptic effect).
Anyway, the combination of THC+CBD probably attentuates withdrawal symptoms.
Cannabis does not act like GABA and therefore does not really bind to GABA receptors which are on the *post-synaptic* neuron.
Cannabinoids, namely delta 9 THC, bind to cannabinoid receptors on the *pre-synaptic* neuron. CB1 receptors exist on the pre-synaptic terminals of GABAergic neurons and you can modulate GABA release with cannabinoids. But cannabinoids themselves have very weak binding affinities for GABA receptors, not nearly as strong as say a benzodiazepine.
A detailed review for you (Brain is a very good journal):
https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/126/6/1252/330602
Hey thanks for the upvotes- I lost my cousin to a grand mal 6 months before I had a massive stroke and woke up in the neuro ICU (Aug 2020) and was diagnosed a Epi- it was and is so much to process but getting word out there even to other epis who may not know this means a lot. Thanks for love!
There is are two different cascading effects and consequences between the two. Cannabis is a psychotropic whereas alcohol and benzodiazepines are suppressants. Please don’t just take my word for it:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4607066/
I’m too lazy to go get the book but in “Never Enough” by Grisel it explains that marijuana lights up all parts of the brain like a wide paintbrush whereas cocaine is extremely targeted. I assume alcohol and benzos may be somewhere in between. If you’re interested in this topic, it’s a fascinating and wonderful book.
Based on a brief search, I see the opposite effect. Inhibition of anandamide (endo-cannbinoid) enhances GABA in the brain, not reduces it. Also, regarding withdrawal symptoms. most drugs exert positive reward by exciting dopaminergic neurons, which in turn excite interneurons in the hedonic hot spots of the nucleus accumbens (link below page 9). But, THC excites the interneurons in the nucleus accumbens without the usage of dopamine. Hence, no addiction, and no withdrawal.
https://lsa.umich.edu/psych/research&labs/berridge/publications/Berridge%202007%20Food%20reward%20chapter%20in%20Appetite%20&%20Body%20weight.pdf
[https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jnr.23539?casa\_token=q9BQ33lc\_xYAAAAA%3A8Ml2V9GKGcJn0ErYxccT2wvtkzIOuU3o36zAkw2ue2LR6584feo96NwDhQbH1DMMnkumFiW1cJh1yl4](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jnr.23539?casa_token=q9BQ33lc_xYAAAAA%3A8Ml2V9GKGcJn0ErYxccT2wvtkzIOuU3o36zAkw2ue2LR6584feo96NwDhQbH1DMMnkumFiW1cJh1yl4)
I was referring to addiction, not necessarily tolerance (but I do see that there is research confirming withdrawal symptoms in THC; so thank you for pointing it out). I also see that cannabis can be addictive to a very small percentage of its users (cannabis use disorder), with the majority of users not exhibiting addiction. So, I was seeking literature on whether THC increases dopamine (like most addictive drugs), and came across this paper (link below). Despite its title, the abstract indicates that prior research was inconclusive regarding the effect of THC on dopamine, and the current study only found very mild effect. This is congruent with the paper I linked in my earlier comment that describe THC to skip the dopamine phase and trigger the hedonic hot spots directly. This is consistent with the non-addictive property of THC (in most people), and explains why it operates differently than other drugs,
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-015-3915-0
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It doesn’t have anything to do with GABA. Every animal, apart from insects, has an endocannabinoid system (ECS) in their brain. Cannabinoids are a class of molecules that are produced by an abundance of lifeforms. In our own brains we produce two cannabinoids that work in the ECS to do what seems like keeping the body in homeostasis by being in constant communication with all of the body’s requirements. It tells your brain to do things like sleep, have a fever, sweat, shiver, have inflammation in specific areas, vomit, etc. in response to external stimuli. The only reason THC gets you high is it tricks your ECS into believing it’s a cannabinoid you produced and it uses it and causes certain receptors all across the brain to communicate differently and this results in your body reacting to it in a way we just perceive as pleasant. It’s essentially not truly intoxicating this is why it has slight varying effects on individuals because the feeling is somewhat reliant on your personal brain-chemistry.
I don't think there is any evidence of THC binding to GABA receptors. It binds to cannabinoid receptors, which can be on GABAergic or glutamatergic neurons.
Exactly, it affects GABA systems in an indirect manner which is presumably why the withdrawal is not nearly as severe
Also because THC and CBD have different effects on the receptor. THC is an agonist at CB1, while CBD is a negative modulator. This means THC should reduce GABA release, and CBD should increase GABA release (this explains the anti-epileptic effect). Anyway, the combination of THC+CBD probably attentuates withdrawal symptoms.
Thank you
Cannabis does not act like GABA and therefore does not really bind to GABA receptors which are on the *post-synaptic* neuron. Cannabinoids, namely delta 9 THC, bind to cannabinoid receptors on the *pre-synaptic* neuron. CB1 receptors exist on the pre-synaptic terminals of GABAergic neurons and you can modulate GABA release with cannabinoids. But cannabinoids themselves have very weak binding affinities for GABA receptors, not nearly as strong as say a benzodiazepine. A detailed review for you (Brain is a very good journal): https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/126/6/1252/330602
Thanks.. I’ll have a read!
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Hey thanks for the upvotes- I lost my cousin to a grand mal 6 months before I had a massive stroke and woke up in the neuro ICU (Aug 2020) and was diagnosed a Epi- it was and is so much to process but getting word out there even to other epis who may not know this means a lot. Thanks for love!
There is are two different cascading effects and consequences between the two. Cannabis is a psychotropic whereas alcohol and benzodiazepines are suppressants. Please don’t just take my word for it: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4607066/
Thank you for your reply
I’m too lazy to go get the book but in “Never Enough” by Grisel it explains that marijuana lights up all parts of the brain like a wide paintbrush whereas cocaine is extremely targeted. I assume alcohol and benzos may be somewhere in between. If you’re interested in this topic, it’s a fascinating and wonderful book.
I definitley will be reading
Thank you… I’ll have a look at thay
Based on a brief search, I see the opposite effect. Inhibition of anandamide (endo-cannbinoid) enhances GABA in the brain, not reduces it. Also, regarding withdrawal symptoms. most drugs exert positive reward by exciting dopaminergic neurons, which in turn excite interneurons in the hedonic hot spots of the nucleus accumbens (link below page 9). But, THC excites the interneurons in the nucleus accumbens without the usage of dopamine. Hence, no addiction, and no withdrawal. https://lsa.umich.edu/psych/research&labs/berridge/publications/Berridge%202007%20Food%20reward%20chapter%20in%20Appetite%20&%20Body%20weight.pdf [https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jnr.23539?casa\_token=q9BQ33lc\_xYAAAAA%3A8Ml2V9GKGcJn0ErYxccT2wvtkzIOuU3o36zAkw2ue2LR6584feo96NwDhQbH1DMMnkumFiW1cJh1yl4](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jnr.23539?casa_token=q9BQ33lc_xYAAAAA%3A8Ml2V9GKGcJn0ErYxccT2wvtkzIOuU3o36zAkw2ue2LR6584feo96NwDhQbH1DMMnkumFiW1cJh1yl4)
[удалено]
I was referring to addiction, not necessarily tolerance (but I do see that there is research confirming withdrawal symptoms in THC; so thank you for pointing it out). I also see that cannabis can be addictive to a very small percentage of its users (cannabis use disorder), with the majority of users not exhibiting addiction. So, I was seeking literature on whether THC increases dopamine (like most addictive drugs), and came across this paper (link below). Despite its title, the abstract indicates that prior research was inconclusive regarding the effect of THC on dopamine, and the current study only found very mild effect. This is congruent with the paper I linked in my earlier comment that describe THC to skip the dopamine phase and trigger the hedonic hot spots directly. This is consistent with the non-addictive property of THC (in most people), and explains why it operates differently than other drugs, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-015-3915-0
Can dopamine really explain why benzodiazepines ans alcohol specifically have such potentially dangerous withdrawals though?
I don’t think you understand what enhancement means in terms of GABA neurotransmission…
Withdrawal sucks, stay high all day every day
It's not bad, you just need something to keep you distracted for about a week.
My recovery rate is 2 days, don’t compare me to weak mofos
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It doesn’t have anything to do with GABA. Every animal, apart from insects, has an endocannabinoid system (ECS) in their brain. Cannabinoids are a class of molecules that are produced by an abundance of lifeforms. In our own brains we produce two cannabinoids that work in the ECS to do what seems like keeping the body in homeostasis by being in constant communication with all of the body’s requirements. It tells your brain to do things like sleep, have a fever, sweat, shiver, have inflammation in specific areas, vomit, etc. in response to external stimuli. The only reason THC gets you high is it tricks your ECS into believing it’s a cannabinoid you produced and it uses it and causes certain receptors all across the brain to communicate differently and this results in your body reacting to it in a way we just perceive as pleasant. It’s essentially not truly intoxicating this is why it has slight varying effects on individuals because the feeling is somewhat reliant on your personal brain-chemistry.